Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-04

Muller turned Iivid with fear, and the cold
peIspiration streamed from his face. He
was bold man enough in general way,
but this was too much for his nerves.
1t is my mothers voice, il is her very
words" he called ont aloud, and then, dash
ing his spurs into his horses tanks. Ire went
like a flash away from the accursed spot; nor
did he draw rein till he came TO his own
place, ten miles away. Twice the horse fell
In the darkness, Cor there was no moon. the
secohd tune throwing him heavily, buJ no
only dragged it up with a curse, and, spring-
ing into the saddle again, fled on as before.
Thus did the man who did not hesitate to
plot and to execute the cruel slaughter of I'M
offending men cover beneath the fancied echo
of a dead woman's voicei Truly human ma
ture is fun of contradictions.
When the thunder of the horses hoois grew
faint Jantje emerged from one of his hiding
places, and, throwing himself down i'll the
center of the dusty road. kicked and rolled
with delight, shaking all the while with an
inward joy that his habits Of caution would
not permit him to give audible vent to. Ills
mothers voice, his mothers words, =" he quoted
to himself How should he know that Jant j.
remembers the old womans voice-ay, and
the words that the devil in her snci.e too.
Hee! Heel Heel"
Bessie fled without stopping till she reached
the orange trees in front of the veranda,
where, treasured by the lights from the Win
dows, she paused to consider. Not that she
was troubled by Jantje's mysterious bowling:
indeed, she was too preoccupied to give it Il
second thought What she was debating wa;
whether she should say anything about her
encounter with Frank Muller After pausing
for few seconds to pick branch of orange
blossom and to become herself generally,
which, not being Historically inclined, she
very soon did, she quietly entered the house
as though nothing had happened. The very
first person she met was John himself, who
had come in by the back way. He laughed
at her orange blossom bouquet, and said that
it was most appropriate and then proceeded
To embrace her tenderly in the passage; aud
indeed he would have been poor sort of
lover if he had not It was exactly at this
juncture that old SiIas Croft happened to
open the sitting room door and come full upon
this tender and attractive tableau.
"WelI, ] nevert" said the old gentleman.
What is the meaning of all this, Bessiel'
vi COtHSt iiltlC wa bttiiiiIp jbi IL btlj u
come in and explain the facts of the case,
which John did with much humming and
ha-ing and a general awkwardneSS of manner
that battles description, while Bessie stood by,
her hand upon her lovers shoulder bltislling
as red as any rose.
The old man listened in silence till john
h0l finished-a smile upon bis face and a
kindly twinkle III his keen eyes.
49," he said, "that is what you young
people have been after, is it? ] suppose that
you want TO enlarge your interests in the
farm, eh, John2 Well, upon my word, | don't
blame you; you might have gone farther and
Jared worse. These sort of things never come
singly, it seems l had another request for
your hand, my dear, only this afternoon from
that scoundrel Frank Muller, of all men in
the world" and his face darkened as he said
the name. II sent him off with a flea in hi.
ear, | can tell you Had known then what
| know now | should have referred him to
John. There, therel He is bad man and a
dangerous man, but let him be- He is taking
plenty of rope and he will hang himself one
of these days, Well, my dears. this is the
best bit of news that have heard for many
a long day. 1t is time you got married, botl
of you, for ii is not right for man to live
alone, or woman either. / have done it al
my life, and that is the conclusion ] have
come to after thinking the matter over some.
where about fifty years Yes, you have my
consent and my blessing, too; and you vii
have something more one day before so very
long. Take her, John, take her. I have led
rough life, but l have seen something OF
women for NIL of that, mud I tell you thai